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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 





ALICE VAN PELT 

SYLVANIA, OHIO 


WITH 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

BY 

A. M. GRAVES 


Copyright, 1914 
By ALICE VAN PELT 


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NOV 18 1914 

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George had shown when only three and a half years old 
such a liking for rhymes that his Grandma wrote him some 
lines about a cake of fine Soap which she took to him. The child 
was greatly pleased and at once wanted ‘‘more.” She had been 
explaining to him the necessity for returning home on the car 
upon which his Grandpa was expecting her, when he asked that 
she write him telling just how she should get home that day; 
whether she or his Grandpa got to the station first, whether 
Grandpa drove the sorrel or the gray and other facts — always 
facts he wanted. He further stipulated that when finished she 
was to bring the story and read it to him herself; it was in no 
case to be intrusted to the mail. When this tale had grown only 
a little old, he easily thought of others he wanted told, so it 
came to pass that his Grandma had a continuous job on hand, 
and the boy in time had quite a collection of what he termed 
“Pretty Letters.” Sometimes the subjects he chose were almost 
impossible, as when his godmother’s big white dog had been 
poisoned and he demanded “a pretty letter on Duke Dog dead.” 
After eight months’ insistence he got even that. Some of his 
Grandma’s friends thought George should share his “pretty 
letters” with other boys and girls, so they are here offered with a 
hope that they please. 


ALICE VAN PELT. 


DEDICATED 

To 

GEORGE T. BARNES 

For whose amusement these verses were written by- 
loving Grandmother. 


Contents 





About George’s Little Chair 7 

To George, with a Cake of Soap 11 

The Greedy Puppy 12 

The Song Your Mama Loved 15 

Grandma’s Silly Dream 21 

The Two Cats 22 

To George in Seattle 23 

The Quarrel 24 

The Three Little Kittens 26 

The Ugly Dream 27 

From George to the Moon 28 

With a Double-Yolk Turkey’s Egg 31 

Grandma’s Queer Dream 32 

The Buckeye Boy and the Pine Cone Coon 33 

Grandma’s Awful Dream 39 

The First Snow 41 

Jack Frost 43 

How Grandma Got Home 44 

Daffodils 47 

March 49 

No Easter-Eggs 50 

Grandma’s Funny Dream 51 


Contpnta— Continupft 


The Robins 52 

Bird Secrets 55 

House Hunting 56 

Little Robin-Redbreast 58 

Ten Little Pigs 60 

The Chickens 62 

The Ducks 63 

The Turkeys 64 

The Grinderman 65 

The Letter About the Dead Dog 68 

The Pussy-Willow 70 

To Baby Parks 71 

The Runaway Lady 74 

To Baby Alice 75 

Bustling Bee and Quiet Flower 76 

Grandma’s Pleasant Dream 77 



I 










m 


UR little Jane had a little ehair 
And a china doll with shiny hair ; 

She rocked her doll and sewed her seam, 

She gathered the eggs and drove the team, 
She got up early in the morn 

To ride the horse that ploughed the corn; 
She found so many things to do. 

The half I never could tell to you ; 

But she never broke her rocking chair, 

Xor the china doll with the shiny hair. 


7 


ABOUT GEORGE’S LITTLE CHAIR 



Our little Jane soon grew quite tall, 

Went to the theatre anti the hall; 

And then she married and went away 

From the country home where she used to play. 
Jane moved here and -lane moved there, 

And always she moved the little chair; 

The china doll, she moved that too; 

Now Avasn’t that queer for Jane to do? 

No one to sit in the little chair. 

Or rock the doll Avith the shiny hair. 


8 


ABOUT GEORGE’S LITTLE CHAIR 


The Stork, while striding- across their lot, 

Said : ‘ ‘ Pon my soul ! T ’d clean forgot ; ’ ’ 

Then up he rose and away he flew, 

And a bundle brought; and that was you. 
Then iMama Jane was glad, you see. 

And daddy was proud as ])roud could be, ' 

•lane })ut the doll with the shiny hair 
Out of sight, 1 can’t tell where; 

Hut the chair she kept where the boy lay. 

All ready for him to rock, some day. 




9 


ABOUT GEORGE’S LITTLE CHAIR 


0 my ! 0 me ! but this tale grows long ! 

But that’s the way with a Grandma song; 

The wee. sweet boys all listen so well 

To the great long tales their Grandmas tell: 

If ever these Grandma songs get sung, 

She must sing them now while George is young. 
The Little Chair story is almost done ; 

Jane’s boy was gay and full of fun, 

The chair was old, the boy was stout. 

And soon he’d burst the cane seat out. 



10 



STo 

Witl; a ®ake of ^oap 


0 the dear, cleanest boy that Grandma has seen 
She brings this sweet soap to help him keep clean 
To use when he washes his ears and his nose, 

Between his fat fingers and under his toes. 


Then make the bath foamy with soap, if you please. 

And wash your stout legs and your dear dimpled knees. 
Your Grandma delights to see you wade in. 

From your little pink toes to your little pink chin. 



Stljp 
OIrppJiij 

P«PPB 

^AlD the Pussy to the Puppy: “Would you please to see 
If the Maid has the milk in the plate for me ? ” 

The Pussy wasn’t lazy, but her foot was sore 
Where the Maid shut the foot in the kitchen door. 



Said the Puppy to the Pussy: 'M ain glad to do 
Any little errand that I can for you/’ 

And away he ran at a very brisk rate, 

And the milk ivas there in the Pussy’s plate. 


12 


THE GREEDY PUPPY 


Then he took a wee taste, just so he might tell 
The Pussy if the Maid had warmed it well ; 

Though this greedy little Puppy had his own supper late, 
He tasted, and he tasted, till he’d licked the plate. 

Then O My ! how he hated to go back and to say 
To the Pussy that he ’d pilfered her milk all away ; 

That poor little Pussy who with hunger cried 
While the Puppy was so sick that he almost died. 



13 


I 



The Little Old Miller Who Lived in His Mill 


14 



Ifour Mama 


HE Letter that your Grandma brings today 
Is about your ^lama, who used to play 
In Grandma’s l)ig yard where the apple trees were, 
And about the songs that I sang to her. 

I sang her the story of Jack and Jill, 

And The Little Old iMiller who lived in his mill ; 

Of Old iMother Hubbard and all the rest, 

Hut always she liked Little Dame Crumb best. 

Dame Crumb, 

Da}ne Crumb! 

DAME CRUMB! till I 
Didn T know whether to laugh or to cry. 




15 


THE SONG YOUR MAMA LOVED 



There was Hunipty-l)uiiii)ty wlio sat 
on the wall, 

And John Brown's hoys who were 
In.iiins all: 

There was Roek-aJ)ye, Bal)y. on the 
tree top. 

And the pony they wanted should hop, hop, hop ; 

The mouse they wanted should hell the cat. 

The dame who didn’t know where she was at: 

AVhen I’d sung these, one and all, she would say : 
“You didn’t sing Little Dame Uruml) this day.'’ 

Dame (h-umh, 

Dcone Crumb! 

DA.ME CRUMB! till I 

Didn’t know whether to laugh or to 
crv. 



16 


THE SONG YOUR MAMA LOVED 


Sometimes I would sing of Little Boy Blue, 
Or of an old woman who lived in a shoe, 


Or of a Bo-Peep whose sheep would come 
soon. 

Or of an old cow that jumped over the 
moon ; 


Or of Jack and a beanstalk that grew up 
so high, 

Or of twenty-four blackbirds baked in a 
pie : 



When I\i sung these, and Jack Horner s 
plum 

She would say: ‘‘Now sing me Little Dame 
Crumb.” 

Dame Crumb, 

Dame Crumb! 

DAME CRUMB ! till I 



Didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. 


17 


THE SONG YOUR MAMa LOVED 



Sometimes it would be the House that Jack Built, 

Or Cock Robin’s blood that the sparrow bird spilt; 

Or the two greedy foxes who went out for prey, 

Or a dame fast asleep on the King’s highway: 
Sometimes of Red Ridinghood, too, I would tell, 

Or how the poor Pussy got thrown in the well. 

When I had sung these and the A B C’s too 

She’d say: ^‘Sing me Dame Crumb, now do, iMama, 
do.” 

Dame Crumb, 

Dame Crumb! 

DAME CRUMB ! till I 
Didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. 


18 


THE SONG YOUR MAMA LOVED 


How three witches sat on the steeple tall, 

How Cinderella drove three times to the 
ball; 

How the three blind mice the butcher ’s 
wife killed, 

How the black sheep’s wool just three 
bags filled; 

How three wise men went to sea in a 
bowl, 

How three fiddlers fiddled for Old King Cole : 

When I’d sung her all these, some three times three, 

She would say; ‘‘Sing Little Dame Crumb to me.” 

Dame Crumb, 

Dame Crumb! 

DAiME CRUMB ! till I 

Didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. 




19 



Grandpa’s Windmill 


20 


®ranJtma’0 ^iUg Sr^ant 


<i 


RANDMA had a silly dream, 

Too silly, ’most, to tell; 

She dreamed that George went swimming 
In Grandpa ’s great deep well : 

Then they set the windmill pumping, 

And the wind it blew so high, 

It pumped George up, out through the spout. 
And tossed him to the sky. 


AID the owl that sat on the old pine tree : 

^ ^ T ’whoot ! T ’whoot ! Such things can ’t he ; 
T ’whoot ! T ’whoot ! T ’whoot ! ” he ’d scream ; 
‘AVhat silly things these Grandmas dream.” 


21 





®uio Cat0 


Grandma had a tabby cat. 

And tabby cat was gray ; 

George came to Grandma’s house, 
All on a summer’s day. 

Grandma had a tommy cat, 

But Tommy wouldn’t play; 

So George caught the tab])y cat. 
While Tommy ran away. 

George gave the tabby cat 

Nice sweet cream that day : 

Tommy got no sweet cream. 

Tommy wouldn’t stay. 

George gave the tabby cat 

Nice sweet cake that day; 

But Tommy got no nice cake. 
Tommy ran away. 



22 


®e0rge 
®n Beattie 

Yf Send you some gourd 
A ])uds ; I want you to see 
How much like the old 

gourds the buds try to be. 
We never will miss them 
from olf the big vine; 
There must be a hundred, 
at least ninety-nine. 

The seeds that I planted 
beside the east door 
Have grown to the top of 
the window and more : 



Have turned and are creeping along the roof's edge, 
And clinging so closely to each little ledge. 

Through the window I see, as 1 walk the side hall. 

The little gourds hanging, some large and some small. 
Lots of them now are as large as my thumb ; 

I hope they will ripen before the frosts come. 

I planted them hoping you’d he here to reap; 

You said that you wanted to pick a big heap ; 

But now you have gone away off to Seattle, 

ITease tell me if 1 shall feed them to the cattle. 


1 ’ill sure you ’d he pleased my young turkeys to see. 
They’re now grown so large they can roost in a tree. 
Just watch the mail, daily. I’ll send you (piite soon 
A letter I’m writing from George to the IMoon. 


23 



O^uarr^l 

Two pretty posies that couldn't agree, 

Each as pretty as pretty could he ; 

A great red Rose as fragrant as spice, 

And a dainty pink, demure and nice. 

The Rose thought the Pink was trying to be 
As large and as sweet as herself, you see : 
Had too many friends; I’m sure you’ll think 
Rose silly to envy the beautiful Pink. 


24 


THE QUARREL 


Pink thought the Rose, so haughty and high, 
AVas selfish and cross, and that was why 
She peevish grew and said truthful things, 

To the haughty Rose, of a thorn that stings. 

The Rose tossed her head in angry pride. 

Made a sweeping bow to the Pink and cried : 

‘ M T1 thrust that thorn in your staring eye ; 

ITl teach you better than to dare to try 

To rival me and steal my friends. ’ ’ 

In her angry haste to gain these ends 

She bowed too fiercely ; her frail stem broke. 

And these angry words were the last she spoke. 

The sting of the thorn and the scorching breath 
Laid the beautiful Pink quite low in death : 

So both of the pretty posies died, 

Who should have been the garden’s pride. 


25 ' 


i£ittle SCtttpnB 


riREE little kittens a-napping in the sun, 
Along comes the puppy and the nap is done. 
One little kitten climbed the white ash tree ; 

One little kitten came straight to me. 


One little kitten just ran and ran 
Till he found himself in a big milk can ; 

And that saucy puppy thought it such fine fun 
To frighten little pussies and to watch them run. 



26 


Srijp Ugly Sream 


Poor Gran’ma had an ugly dream 
About those Turkeys, too : 

Some boy calling from a tree, 

She was quite sure ’twas you. 

The turkey gobbler down below 
Was holding up an ax 

And saying ''Now, I’ll tell you sir 
Some mighty ugly facts : 

With this same ax you killed my dad. 
You killed my dear old mother, 

You killed and sold my sisters six, 

You killed my only l)rother. 

Now I shall fly to where you sit, 

I’ll bring this ax so willing 

And when I’ve caught you by the leg. 
Young man, I’ll do some killing.” 

And then he started up to tly, 

Your Gran’ma gave a scream 

That wakened every body; so 
She found ’twas all a dream. 

An old hen, coming from her nest. 
Sang ; Cut, cut, cut, cu-dacket, 

1 wonder what it’s all about, 

This most uncommon racket. 


27 


Jffrom CS^orge to ttfo iMoan 


AY Mister Man, away up in the moon, 
Where do you go that you get back so soon ? 
It cannot be far though my Grandma does say 
You are peeping at hoys from here to Bombay. 


Why you watch boys I wish that I knew. 

What are you hunting for all the night through? 
If you can^t find it why don’t you quit peeping. 
Settle down somewhere and go to housekeeping? 


How do you think you would like it, I say, 

To he watched while you eat and watched while you 

play ; 

Watched by the women all morning and' noon. 

And when it comes night by a silly old moon? 

I’m thinking how very much nicer you’d be 
If you’d only grow chatty and tell what you see; 

You could come in my window when I go to bed 
And I’d listen all night to the things that you said. 


28 





FROM GEORGE TO THE MOON 


The stories you know must be many and 
good — 

If only you’d tell them, — I wish that you 
would : 

Of all the queer sights that I know you 
must see, 

Never a one have you ever told me. 


Now say, were you frightened most ready 
to die 

When that cow took to jumping, and 
jumped to the sky? 

Did you wish she would break her old neck 
and he dead 

When you saw her heels dangling to close 
to your head? 

And say, iMister Moon, do you think it ([uite right 

To never go anywhere only at night? 

I wonder if you can be ’fraid of the day, 

That you hunt all night long to keep out of its way. 

If you’d come in the morning — I know that you won’t — 

Ihit if you would come, I would help you to hunt; 

Hut nights I am sleepy, to bed I must go, 

And what you are hunting, 1 never shall know. 




30 


a Snuble-^nlk turkey’© S00 



ERE^S a big Easter-Egg, and Grandma would beg 
That you boil it and eat it; she thinks they can’t beat it 
At all the big stores in all this big state. 

The turkey-hen laid it, and surely she made it 
AVith Easter intention, so pray do not mention 
That the dear old hen brought it a day or two late. 


31 



Grandma’s Bream 

Grandma had the queerest dream, 

Now what do you suppose? 

She dreamed her turkey gobbler 
Had gobbled George ’s nose ; 

And that she made a dough nose, 

And baked it nice and brown ; 

But when she got it nicely fast 
She found ’twas upside down. 




Mp 


A Cricket chirped so cheerily 
Behind the bed room door : 
“If I were you I wouldn’t try 
To do that any more.” 


32 


2Soi} 

an& Cone Conn 





JJf HE wind gave a party that was to be 
^^Por the folk who grew on bush or tree 
The leaves, the acorns and many beside. 
His carriage he sent for the weak to ride. 


33 




THE BUCKEYE BOY AND THE PINE CONE COON 


They could shout and dance, they could sing and play 
Their maddest pranks the livelong day ; 

And all who needn’t go home too soon 

Could go, with the wind, on a trip to the moon. 

He would take them there on his great stout wings ; 
There he would show them beautiful things; 

There they could gather the sugar plums. 

That grow from the end of the moon man’s thumbs. 

The leaves came early and the puff balls too, 

And many a wild waltz they whirled through. 

The Buckeye Boy and the Pine Cone Coon 
Came to the party, but not so soon. 


34 


THE BUCKEYE BOY AND THE PINE CONE COON 


For they were far too heavy to ride 
On the wings of the wind, and when they tried 
Over and over on the ground to roll 
One or the other would drop in a hole. 

So they built two tracks of the needles hne, 
Which fell at their feet from the trees of pine ; 
These two together they closely tied. 

That they could travel side by side. 

They must build their track, then hoist it high. 
Over the hummocks; and that was why 
The Buckeye Boy and the Pine Cone Coon 
Didn’t get there until afternoon. 


35 


THE BUCKEYE BOY AND THE PINE CONE COON 


But when, at last, they had reached the spot 
They were the merriest of the lot ; 

Danced with Miss Thistle and Miss Acorn Cup, — 
Danced and danced, till the moon came up. 

Then the wind whistled his wildest tune : 

''Aboard! Aboard! all aboard for the moon!” 
But the giddiest only dared to try, 

On the wings of the wind, that trip to the sky. 

But even these grew dizzy and fell ; 

And then the wind, with an angry yell. 

Snatched one end of the pine needle track 
And carried it skyward on his back. 


36 


THE BUCKEYE BOY AND THE PINE CONE COON 


He fa^stened it well, and sure as fate ' 

There stood a ladder, tall and straight. 

The Buckeye Boy and the Pine Cone Coon 
Climbed that ladder, and it led to the moon. 

Some had grown weary and some had grown weak. 
Some had gone home too cross to speak: 

Some had grown sleepy and gone olf to bed, 

Some were dizzy and some were dead. 

So of all the merry-makers gay 
These two stout hearts won the da}". 

’Twas the Buckeye Boy and tlie i^ine Cone Coon 
AVho gathered the sugar-])lums u}) in the moon. 


37 



38 


®raniima^0 Aiuful Sr^am 


®T Grandma had an aivfnl dream, 

She dreamed a Motor-Car 

Mas chasing George, who ran and ran, 

And ran so very far. 

He never could get hack again. 

His legs had grown so weak ; 

And when your Grandma wakened up 
She was too scared to speak. 



39 


GRANDMA’S AWFUL DREAM 


Out ill the yard a bird, so lilue, 

Seemed to think that the dream was 
true ; 

For from the branch of an apple-tree, 

He sang this cheer-uj) song to me : 

^ ‘ Cheer up ! Cheer uj^ ! Don ’t you cry. 
George will get liack liye and hye. 

Cheer up ! (dieer u]) ! Don 't you cry. 
You are a Iduebird, so am 1.*’ 



40 



Jffirst ^nnui 



HE Snow came falling, falling, 


Softly falling in the night ; 


It covered all the paths, and wrapped 


The world in blankets white. 


41 


THE FIRST SNOW 


It tucked the last year’s posy roots 
AW snugly in their beds. 

Then quietly lay waiting for 
The children with their sleds. 

The children hailed the vSnow with glee, 
AVith merry whoop and shout ; 

In mittens, furs and mufflers 
They all came trooping out. 

They tumbled in the soft white Snow, 
They raced their sleds, they ran; 

They snow-balled to their heart’s content. 
Then made a big snow man. 


42 


3lark 3l?ro0t 


m 


'HEN Jack Frost paints the window-panes 
He always paints them white; 

To put the pretty pictures there, 

Jack sometimes works all night; 

And when the sun comes blazing out. 

So early in the day. 

He sees those pretty pictures there 
And melts them all away. 


When Jack Frost paints the children’s cheeks, 
He always paints them red : 

I ’ll tell you what I think. — although 
I’ve never heard it said, — 

I think the sun likes pictures done 
In colors bright and gay; 

For pictures on the children’s cheeks. 

He never melts away. 


43 



^au^ draniima CSot i!fomp 


HEN Grandma got to Smith’s Siding that day 
There stood the sorrel and there stood the gray 


Hitched to the buggy, with blankets inside ; 
Everything ready for Grandma to ride. 

Grandpa was waiting just inside the store, 
Grandma had all she could carry, and more ; 


44 


HOW GRANDMA GOT HOME 


Grandpa he met her out in the roadway, 

And said. '‘You come heavily loaded to-day.” 

Grandma had crackers and lemons and tea, 

She'd salmon and grapes and the best of coffee: 

In fact her big basket was full to the brim, 

And gladly she handed it over to him. 

Then Grandpa and Grandma they both clambered in. 
And pulled the big blankets well up to the chin. 

The horses were lively and wanted to go 

As fast as they could but Grandpa cried "Whoa!” 

For the roads were quite rough and frozen up stout, 

And Grandpa was 'fraid they would jolt Grandma 
out. 

So he pulled on them hard and held the lines tight. 
And made those old horses walk along right. 


45 


HOW GRANDMA GOT HOME 


They jiggled and jolted each .step of the way, 

And Grandma ivas glad to get home that day; 

For when their .short jonrney was only half done 
A drizzly old, sizzly old rain had begun. 

When they got to their lane and Grandpa cried ‘'Gee !” 
Not a chicken or turkey or cat could they see ; 

For all had gone scampering out of the rain. 

And wouldn’t come out till the sun .shone again. 

Into the barn went the sorrel and gray, 

W^ith corn in their manger and lots of nice hay. 

Then Grandpa made tires and Grandma made tea. 
And soon they were cozy as cozy could be. 


46 





iBaffodila 


^AFPODILLY, Daffodilly, I think you are silly 
To dress up so light while the days are so chilly : 

You will never grow wise for you will never grow old; 

If you dress up so light you’ll catch your death-cold: 

So my dear Dalfodilly, pray do not be silly 

And wear your light clothes while the days are so chilly. 


47 


HDtJVW 



48 



iiHarrIi 


m 


ARCH has come, just hear him roaring. 
Feel his rough breath through us boring; 
Surely there is mischief brewing. 

What can rough old iNIarch he doing? 


Is he wailing for some lost thing? 

No, he’s fighting with the Frost-King; 
Forcing each Ice-Imp to pay toll, 
Chasing Jack Frost to the North Pole; 


So his sweetheart, his loved April 
]\Iay come dressed in many a gay frill; 
That her sunshine and her showers 
i\Iay bring forth the sweet spring flowers. 


49 


S3o lEaatpr - Sggs 



IIP] Rab])it kept on running. 
And never stopped at all 


To leave an egg for Grandma 

In kitchen, porch or hall : 

The doors were partly open, 

But he went whizzing by ; 


He need not think that Grandma 
Will just sit down and cry. 




50 



Grandma had a funny dream, 
She knows that you will laugh; 
For she thought George went a-riding 
On Grandpa ’s J ersey calf ; 

And the Jersey took to jumping, 

And jumped and jumped, until 
George tumbled off, and then he laughed 
To see George roll down hill. 


ITTING on the window-ledge, a wren 
Whistled to Grandma, ^‘When, 



51 


®lfp iSnbina 



^|f HE Robins have come and yon may see 
Their red breasts gleam in the white 
ash tree 

If at Grandma’s window yon conld wait. 
And Avatch the tree at the old front gate. 


The wind blows cold but I hear their song, 
For AAdiich the tree has waited long; 

Now it will dress itself in green, 

The Robin-Redbreast’s nest to screen. 


For they’ll bnild a nest in the tree-top tall 
And fasten it well to twigs so small ; 

Then soon some bine eggs there will be 
In the nest at the top of the white ash tree. 


They will not bnild while the cold winds blow, 

Bnt will wait till the grass and green leaves grow; 
And Avhile they wait through the days so chill 
They will sing and sing with a right good will. 


52 


THE ROBINS 


And while they build they will sing some too, 
But when the nest has its eggs of blue 
She will sit on the eggs all day, and he 
Will be too busy to sing to me. 

For he must ])ring her things to eat, 

Little green worms and bugs so sweet : 

She will be cross if he stops to sing. 

She will want him always on the wing. 

And when she has hatcdied those eggs so small, 
L"p in the nest in the tree-top tall. 

Never a song will tliey sing to me. 

So terribly busy they both will be. 

They will gather green worms and bugs, and pull 
The grain to keep tliose little mouths full; 

And if ever he stops to sing, you see. 

He must be far off from the white ash tree. 


53 





THE ROBINS 


So I ’ill glad they come while the days are chill, 
And sing, and sing, and sing until 
The trees grow green and the days grow long; 
For that’s when most we need their song. 



54 


■iujr 




the Meadow-Lark’s secret you would share 
Search in the grass, it is always there. 


If into the Swallow’s nest you’d peep, 
Under the eaves you’ll have to creep. 

You couldn’t climb if you would try, 
Into the Robin’s nest to spy. 

Of trouble, these nests have cost so much 
That you may peep, but may not touch. 


55 



?^unting 




wo little birds as busy as bees, 


Flitting about in the lilac trees; 


Hunting around for the very best, 


The loveliest spot to build a nest. 


56 


HOUSE HUNTING 


Where the leaves will grow a roof of shade, 
And shed the rain when the roof is made : 
With plenty of twigs from which to hop, 

And the limbs must branch to form a prop. 

Too strong to break when the wild winds blow ; 
Too weak to tempt Miss Puss to go: 

My ! 0 i\Ie ! its a serious thing, 

This choosing a spot for a nest each spring. 


67 





mittlp Slabin-®p6brpa0t 



ITTLE Robin-Redbreast perching in a tree, 
Little throat near bursting with your song of 


glee: 


How we love to see you in the early spring, 
Ilow we wait and listen for the songs you sing. 


58 


LITTLE ROBIN-REDBREAST 


Pretty Robin-Redbreast, so nice of you to come 
From the sunny Southland, to our far off home : 
Surely, you were flying more than one long day ; 

Wee bit bonny birdie, how could you And the way? 

Pretty Robin-Redbreast, please now won’t you tell 
Who it was that taught you to sing your notes so 
well ? 

Pretty Robin-Redbreast, you’re the dearest thing 
That the Master sends us in the early spring. 


59 


They run till they come to the garden spot, 

Ten little piggies can spoil a lot; 

Eating up the cahhages and rooting up the peas : 
Such very, very, very ])usy Pigs were these. 

Two little hoys and three little girls 
Pace to the garden with Hying curls: 

Ten little Pigs, each with a black nose, 

And each one squealing as home he goes. 



Slittle 

EX little wliite Pigs shut in a pen, 

(tne bores a little hole; then, 0 then! 
Ten little white Pigs having some fun. 

Ten little white Pigs out for a run. 


60 




61 


QLijick^nsi 



LOSE to the door, with chicks a score 


The speckled hen would stay; 

She sang one song the whole day long 
And never went far away. 

Twas Cluck, Cluck, Cluck, a crumb for luck; 

She was a beggar gay : 

Her little chicks soon learned her tricks, 

Twas Peep, Peep, Peep all day. 



62 


Burks 



HE mother Duck, straight to the brook, 


Went with her little brood; 

She’d teach them how to swim and plow 
The water for their food. 

They were blithe and gay the livelong day, 

The ducklings swam like foam; 

But along toward night they were ready quite 
To all come marching home. 



63 


Srijp ^urksys 


HE Turkey-hen with young turks ten 
AVent rambling in the wood; 

The tender grass, the hugs that pass 

And the berries too were good. 
They ran and ate till it grew quite late, 
’Twas such fine fun to roam; 
Then up in a tree they flew with glee, 

And never once thought of home. 



64 


®rinii0rman 


J5T^H18 is the tale of a good Grinderman, 

Who lives in his mill and grinds all he can : 
Sometimes he grinds fast, sometimes he grinds slow, 
Hut the finer he grinds the faster you grow. 


This is no fairy-tale; ev’ry word's true, 

For this little grinder is working for you: 

In your stomach he sits by night and by day, 

He grinds while you work and grinds while you play. 



65 


THE GRINDERMAN 


Whatever you eat is sent straight to his mill ; 

Then the grinder starts grinding and grinds on it till 
He has it quite ready to make into blood. 

Though much that you send him is not at all good. 

You will think it quite queer that he never comes out 
To see what you boys and girls are about ; 

But the truth of the matter is much stranger still. 
For a Grinderman’s body is part of his mill. 

For the sake of the story I wish I could say 
That this Grinderman always lives happy and gay ; 
But this it not true, and the truth one must tell 
To help one to treat the good Grinderman well. 

When you send him too much of the stuff that’s not 
good 

Ilis mill grows so dull, it won’t grind as it should; 
And when his wee hopper gets piled up too high 
It won’t grind at all and that makes him cry. 


66 


THE GRINDERMAN 


Now don’t call him silly, at least till yon know 
How very much trouble this causes, for 0 ! 

After this happens, — its too had to tell, — 

The Grinderman ’s mill never grinds quite so well. 

’iMongst the many queer things that we each should 
know well 

There are one or two more that I really must tell ; 
Though the Grinderman ’s tears will sharpen his mill, 
AVhen the Grinderman cries you are sure to he ill. 

>So keep the good Grinderman always your friend, 

If he should quit grinding your life would soon end; 
And don’t give the Grinderman too much to do, 
Hememlier, he’s working for nothing for you. 


67 



ffiptter About Soab So0 


|1NG you a song of Duke to-day? 
Duke dog ’s song is far from gay : 
Duke was a dog that went astray, 

A great white dog that would run away. 


Duke had a home that was (luite complete, 
A nice large house, and plenty to eat ; 
Plenty of milk and plenty of meat : 

Why should Duke run oif down street? 


Duke went once and Duke went twice, 
Duke went again and thought hwas nice ; 
Thought, of life, this was the spice. 

But poor dog Duke, he paid the price. 


68 


THE LETTER ABOUT THE DEAD DOG 


For Duke went once too often, when 
He got some meat some butcher-men 
Threw to street dogs, then, O then ! 

Duke was keen to get home again. 

For Duke was very, very sick. 

Wanted to get home very (juick; 

But his legs were stilt and his tongue was thick. 
And to the path his feet would stick. 

It seemed he could not reach the gate. 

And when he got there ’twas too late 
To cure him of that meat he ate ; 

So they buried Duke and their grief was great. 



69 



Puaay-WtUotu 


gi^HE clear Pussy- AVillow, the wise Pussy-Willow 

Comes early in spring, but he wears a fur coat; 
He ’s not a bit vain, he ’s a sensible fellow, 

And keeps it well buttoned close up to his throat. 


The dear Pussy-Willow, the wise Pussy-Willow 

Wears his fur coat when at work or at play 

Till the days have grown warm and the nights soft 
and mellow. 

Then l)ursts off the l)uttons and throws it away. 

The dear Pussy-Willow, the wise Pussy-Willow 
Grows fast and his leaves are as green as can be; 
Not one of them ever turns sickly and yellow, 

And soon he has grown to a nice thrifty tree. 


70 



SIo Parke 


I long to clasp your hand, Baby Parks 
AVlieii I did it was so small 
’Twas scarcely any hand at all, 

Jnst a clinched np little hall, 

Bal)V Parks. 


71 


TO BABY PARKS 


1 would love to see your eyes. Baby Parks ; 
Once they blinked at me, 'tis true, 

But whether lirown or whether blue 
’Twas hard to tell, they were so new, 
Baby Parks. 


And 1 want to hear you chatter, Iiaby Parks ; 
Not one single, precious word 
Of your ])rattle have 1 heard. 

Though 1 Ve waited years the third. 

Baby Parks. 


72 


TO BABY PARKS 


But I know those little hands, Baby Parks, 
Are finding many things to do, 

Keeping mama’s busy too ; 

To her you prattle all day through. 

Baby Parks. 


And I know those eyes are bright. Baby Parks 
Prayers are rising day and night 
That they guide your feet aright. 

Always into paths of light. 

Baby Parks. 


73 


iRunautay 2IaJiy 


Dear George : — 

Your Grandpa says that he has a stray, 
Declares there’s a woman who runs away; 
Xow tell him, George, and tell him true. 
If the runaway lady comes to you. 

She is far from young, for her hair is gray; 
Yet with boys and girls she loves to stay; 
And that is why — I will tell you true — 
That I think she runs away to you. 

She loves to hear boys shout at play, 

She loves to tell them stories gay : 

Now tell him, George, and tell him true, 
Does the runaway lady come to you? 

Grandi)a shoidd get some youngster gay, 

1 f he would keep her home alway : 

Dut even then, — T will tell you true, 

I believe she would run away to you. 


74 


®n iCtttip Alice 


^j^ ran’ma Alice has something to tell you my dear 
That happened soon after you had been here. 

Twas the very next morning that Uncle Tom found 
Nine little pigs out on the bare ground, 

Nine spotted pigs. My! how they can squeal. 

Did you lose them out of that automobile? 

If you did I’m cjuite vsure you’ll not get them again 
For the big pig has coaxed them all off to her pen. 
Spotted piggies are not very pretty to see 
But she seems to think them as cute as can be ; 

And this pleases us, as she cares for them too ; 

If she did not whatever would Uncle Tom do ? 

P. S. — Those cherries hung on ’till the fourth of July, 
And some hung much longer, ’twas those that hung high. 
I often looked out there, and wished I could see 
Little Alice a sitting in my cherry tree. 


75 



^uatlin0 

anil 

Jflouipr 


^jjUJITTLE busy biizzy Bee, hustling all the day. 
Hunting for the honey in the Flowers gay : 
Honey that lies waiting in such a tiny cup. 

Till the busy buzzy Bee settles down to sup. 


Pretty posies nodding, the nodding is their play ; 
Nodding to the busy Bee, each one seems to say ; 
“IVe the sweetest honey, in the cutest cup, 

Little busy buzzy Bee, come and eat it up,’’ 


76 


®ran&ma’a )^l?asant Sream 


^ItfOUR Grandma had a pleasant dream — 
j 2 thought that George had grown 

Quite tall and had a cart 
And pony of his own : 

And that he drove to Grandma’s house 
To see the crops and trees; 

Then turned the pony in a field 
Of clover to his knees. 

My, how that pony ate and ran 
And jumped and ran and ate, 

While George and Grandma watched his tricks 
Over the garden gate. 

Next day when George went driving home 
A great bird flying high. 

Screamed out to Grandma as he flew : 
'‘Good-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye!” 


77 











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